Electric-clock system.



L. J. ARON. ELECTRIC cLocK SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-30. I912.

Patented June 29, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. J. ARON.

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED ssrmo, 1912.

1,144,885. I -PatentedJune'29;l9l5 .ii

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3 F 79 LITQIZIHIIIIPF L. l. ARON.

memo CLOCK SYSTEM. v APPucmou FILED SEPT- 30. 1912. v 1,144,885, t PatentedJune 29, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LlEONARD JAMES ARON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGN OR 170 X. L. ELECTRICCOMPANY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC-CLOCK SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 29 1915.

Application filed September 30, 1912'. SerialNo. 728,184.

To all-whom it may concern: v

Be it known-thatI, LEONARD JAMns- ARON, a subject of the King of England, residing at London, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Clock Systems,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to systems for electrically controlling or operating one or more time indicating devices fromone or more master clocks which are mechanically driven and regulated by a pendulum or otherwise.

The present invention has for its object to provide a system of the above character which shall be more reliable in operation and less susceptible of interference than those previously proposed.

-According to the present invention the actuating electric impulses transmitted by each of the master clocks of the system are successively opposite in sign so that a positive actuating impulse is succeeded by a negative impulse and. the dial indicators ofv the system or relays controlling such dial indicators are so constructed that the proper progression of the'dial indicators can only be eflectedby such alternately diflerent impulses. Two or more entirely separate and independent systems of distribution conductors are provided for transmitting the impulses to the dial indicators and each of these distribution systems includes a master clock. Each dial indicator of the system or each relay controlling one or more dial indicators therefore receives two or more impulses of the same sign or in the same direction at each actuating instant, viz. one for each of the several master clocks, these sev eral impulses being either simultaneous orsuccessive and being each transmitted along an entirely independent distribution circuit.

It will of course be understood that each of the dial indicators of the system above described may be replaced by a suitable relay which controls a local circuit comprising one or more dial indicators. Such relay may be provided with two or more actuating windings, that is to say one connected in each of the distribution systems, these several windings being either mounted on a common magnetic core or upon separate diagrams illustrating in further detail the connections and arrangement of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2..

Referring now to Fig. 1, the clock system shown therein comprises twomaster clocks 1, 2, each having a rotating contact arm 3, 4:, adapted to engage alternately with pairs of stationary contacts 5, 6 and 7, 8. The contacts 5, 6 of the master clock 1 are connected to-the terminals of a sub-divided battery 9, the middle point of which is connected to one of the circuitconductors 10, the contacts 7, 8 of the master clock 2 being similarly connected to the terminals of a sub-divided battery 11, the middle point of which is connected to another circuit conductor 12. The contact arms 3, 40f the master clocks 1 and 2 are both connected to a common conductor 13 which is preferably earthed.

The dial indicators 1.4: of the system may be of any of the numerous Well-known constructions arranged to operate under im-- pulses alternately opposite in sign; such for instance, as shown in Fig. 1 where 16 and 17 represent two actuating coils wound about a core 50, the coil 16 being connected between the. conductor 10 and the earthed conductor 13, and the coil 17 similarly connected between the conductor 12 and the earthed conductor 13. A polarized armature 51 is pivotally supported in the gap of the core 50 and carries a pair of pawls 52 and 53 cooperating with ratchet wheels54= and 55., respectively mounted on the indi-- cator spindle 56 and a spindle 57 arranged f arranged to engage either,simultaneouslyl or successively with pai'rs of correspon 'ng traversing the windings will move armature in the same direction, so that after 'i'positiveimpulsehas traversed the winding 16 moving the armature 51 to actuate the indicator spindle through the respective awl and associated parts, a later positive impulse traversing the coil 17 obviously will have no result. Theoperation of this form of the invention is as follows:-The rotatingcontact arms 3, 4 of the master clocks! 1 and 2 are contacts 5, 7 and 6, 8 in turn, the engagements thus efl'ected causing the right and left sections of the batterles 9 and 11 to supply electric impulses to the conductors.

. to the operation of the master clock 2 will traverse the other actuating winding 17 of the dial indicators 14,3but will not cause any further progression in the indications given by these dial indicators. Each dial indicator receives two separate and distinct impulses from the batteries 9, 11 through the masterclocks 1, 2 respectively, one of these impulses being supplied to the actuating winding 16 throughthe circuit conduetor 1-0 and the other impulse being suplied to the actuatin Winding 17 of the dial lndicators through t e circuit conductor 12;

In the event'of failure of either of the master clocks 1', 2 or of the batteries 9, 11 the master clock or battery still. remaining in operative condition will be able to continue the proper operation of the dial indicator system and, furthermore, the circuit conductors 10 or 12 or the subsidiary conductors connecting the circuit conductors 10 or ductors and as regards the dial indicators and their connections, so that a maximum of safety against interruption is provided.

-Referring now to Fig. 2, a modification of'the arrangement above described is illustrated having one or more .or all of the dial indicators 14, each replaced by a relay device 18, having two actuating windings 19, 20 which are connected to the circuit con ductors 10, 12 and to earth in a similar 28 to be closed and a second positive im- 1 manner to the windings 16, 17 of the dial indies being coni indicators illustrated 1; The relay Fig. 1, except that inthis case'the du lication of the system is only carried as ar as the relay devices 18. Beyond this point the circiit and operative parts are not duplicate Preferred forms of arrangements for connecting the relay device 18 to the local dial indicator circuit are indicated in Figs. 3, 4

and 5 of the drawings. InFig. '3 the relay device 18 is shown as comprisinga magnetizable core 21 provided with two actuating windings 19, 20 two of the terminalsof which are connected together and earthed as indicated at 22, the remaining terminals 23, 24 of ,these windings being connected to l the circuit conductors 10, 12 respectively. The movable member of the relay device comprises a permanently-magnetized arm 25, attached to a spring support 26 and ,located in an air gap of the core 21. The

magnetized arm 25 carries a head 27 which,

when the core 21,is magnetized byan impulse traversing either the winding 19 or the winding 20, is arranged to close one or other of a pair of spring switches 28, 29

according as to whether the impulse is positive or negative. Two spring contacts one in each of these switches, are connected together to a conductor 30 forming one ofthe conductors of the local indicator circuit the other spring contacts being connected to the terminals of the subdivided battery 31, the middle point of which is connected to a conductor 32' forming the other conductor of the local indicator circuit.

The operation of this'form of theuinvention is as follows -'Assuming that a positive impulse has been transmitted to the circuit conductor 10, the actuating windin 19 of the relay device will be energized an the magnetized arm 25 will be attracted toward the left, thereby-closing the 'sprin switch 28 and connecting the left section 0 the subdivided battery 31 between the conductors 30, 32 so as to transmit animpulse to the dial indicators 14 connected thereto. A later positive impulse transmitted to the circuit conductor 12 will cause in a similar manner the actuating winding 20 of the I relay device 18 to be energized.

The actuating windings 19, 20 are. so wound that impulses of the same sign travmovements of the magnetized arm. 25, so that the later positive impulse above referred to will also cause'the spring switch ersing these: windings will cause similar tors 30, 32.

The operation of. the relay when a negative impulse reaches either the windin 19 or the winding 20 is precisely similar, ex cept that themagnetized arm 25. is in this case deflected toward the rightso as to close the sprin switch 29;. and connect the right section 0 the battery to the circuit conduc-v tors 30, 32.

Referring now to the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the actuatingv windings 19, 20 of the relay device 18, instead of being mounted on a common core as shown in Fig 3, are each provided with separate cores 33, 34. A

permanently magnetized contact arm is pivoted at 36 and maintained by springs 37 in such a position that when neither of the windings 19, 20 are energized, the magnetizable armature 35 is separated from the cores 33, 34 by equal distances. In thisv position the armature 35 is also out of engagement with either of the pairs of contacts 38 or 39 which are connected to the subdivided battery 31 and the circuit conductors 30, 32in a similar manner to the spring switches 28, 29 of Fig. 3. The connections of the windings 19, 20 of the relay device are such that positive impulses supplied to either of these windings will cause the armature 35 to be repelled by the core 33 or attracted by the core 34 as'the case may be, so as to close the contacts 38, and thus connect the left section of the subdivided battery 31 to the circuit conductors 30, 32. A negative impulse transmitted to either of the windings 19, 20 will cause the armature 35 to be repelled by the core 34 or attracted by the core 33 respectively so as to close the contacts 39 and connect the right section of the subdivided battery 31 to the local indicator circuit. The

dial indicators are of the same kind as those in Fig. 3.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 is very similarto that'described with reference to Fig. 3, except that each of the windings 19, 20 is mounted on a separate magnetizable core 40, 41 similar to the core 21 of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3. The magnetized contact arm 42 of the core 40 is arranged to close one or other of a pair of contacts 43, 44 so as to connect either the right or left section of a subdivided battery 49 to the circuit conductors 30, 32 of the local dial indicator circuit according as the impulse received by the winding 19 is a positive or negative impulse.

The magnetized contact arm 45 of the core 41 is similarly arranged to connect pairs of contacts 46 or 47 controlling the subdivided battery 48 in. the same manner so that the system operates as already described with reference to Fig. 3, ex-

. cept that separate cores for the windings 19,

20 are provided and separate sets of contacts are employed to supply impulses to the local scope of my invention.

of current 48, 49. The dial indicators, in

this case again, are of the same kind as 4 those in Fig. 3.

I have illustrated and described preferred =v and satisfactory constructions, but obviously changes could be made within the spirit and at I claim as myinuention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of secondary clocks constructed to be actuated byimpulses alternately opposite in sign, normally-open local circuits for said secondary clocks, means for reversing the polarity in said local circuits, a plurality of main circuits for controlling the operation of said means, and a master clock in each of said main circuits for periodically closing, and alternately reversing the polarity therein.

2. The combination of secondary clocks constructed to be actuated by impulses alternately opposite in sign, normally-open local circuits for said secondary clocks, sourcesfor delivering impulses opposite in sign in said local circuits, relay means associated with each of said local circuits and adapted to control the delivery of said impulses, a plurality of main circuits for said relay means, a source for delivering impulses opposite in sign in each of said main circuits, and a master clock in each of said main circuits and adapted to control said source to deliver impulses alternately opposite in sign.

3. The combination of secondary clocks constructed to be actuated by impulses alternately opposite in sign, normally-open local circuits for said secondary clocks, split batterles for supplying current to said local circuits, switches for connectingopposite sides of said batteries in their respective circuits, relay means for closing said switches, a plurality of main circuits for said relay means, a split battery for supplying current to each of said main circuits, and a master clock adapted to alternately close: the circuit through opposite sides of the split battery in each of said main circuits.

4. The combination of secondary clocks constructed to be actuated by impulses alternately opposite in sign, normally-open local circuits for said secondary clocks, a plurality of sources of electro-motive force in each In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribin "witnesses.

LE NARD JAMES ARON. Witnesses: a

ARTHUR ABBEY HARRY B. Bmmm. 

